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Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo admits she gets kilig when someone calls her “Chef Judy Ann.” For the award-winning actress, it was a different kind of kilig—one that came not from a romantic scene, but from being recognized for her other great love: cooking.

“Siyempre, iba't ibang layers siya ng kilig,” Judy Ann said with a smile during an interview with GMANetwork.com and other entertainment media before she was introduced as the new ambassador of Kyowa, a home and kitchen appliances brand.

She continued, “Siyempre, I feel proud kapag sinasabihan ako na… mas nagki-cringe pa nga ako kapag sinasabihan akong queen, e. Kasi parang, teka muna… Hindi cringe na in a bad way, ha. Nahihiya lang ako na parang ayaw ko sabihin ng mga tao na, 'Feeling-feeling naman 'tong si bakla, reyna-reynahan naman 'tong aura-aura niya.'

“So, as much as possible, hindi naman sa dina-downplay, ayaw kong iparinig at maanuhan ng mga anak namin na, 'Oh, my mom is a queen.'”

While the new title makes her heart flutter, Judy Ann said she always had to remind herself about her journey to becoming a chef.

“May kilig sa lahat. Pero mas nandoon yung kailangan kong paulit-ulit banggitin sa sarili ko na I'm just proud of my journey. Kasi, wala akong tinapakan, ginapang ko ang pag-aartista ko hanggang sa kung nasaan ako ngayon, trinabaho ko siya.

“Kahit yung pagiging chef, kumbaga, marami man silang sabihin against me, I know my truth. Alam ko 'yung pinagtabahuhan ko and hindi ko siya ikinahihiya kasi nga trinabaho ko ito. Hindi ako nag-skip ng chapter para mag-advance ako.

Once celebrated solely for her powerhouse performances on screen, Judy Ann now finds equal joy in being seen as a chef, proof that passion can evolve beautifully beyond the spotlight.

“Challenging na masaya,” says Judy Ann, who is also known in showbiz as the Prime Superstar, about her job as a chef at her restaurant in Angrydobo.

“Nakakapagod kasi nakatayo ka most of the time, especially kapag nasa service ka. Pero alam mo, hindi mo mararamdaman 'yung pagod kapag nasa kusina ka. Mararamdaman mo na lang siya kapag nag-lunch break ka o dinner break ka na. Kasi, bigla ka na lang uupo na parang, 'Ay, pagod pala ako.'”

Courtesy: officialjudayph on Instagram

But like her job as an actress, the celebrity chef also enjoys commanding the kitchen.

“Sa taping kasi o sa shooting, pampered ka with your glam team, your tent, may aircon ka… When you're leading a kitchen… Well, I'm not most of the time kasi we decided na hindi ako kailangan nandoon palagi.

“But when I do have my chef's night, nandoon yung… hindi ka naman kampante pero, siyempre, ang pag-R&D [research and development] minsan dalawa o tatlong araw 'yan,” the Teleserye Queen-turned-chef said.

“Hindi ako nakakaramdam ng pagod, sa totoo lang. Siguro kasi ibang part ng passion ko ang pini-feed ko,” she continued.

“Ganun din when it comes to acting. Kapag nasa shooting ako, iba 'yung passion na pini-feed ko.

“Iba 'yung pagod kasi very emotional 'yung acting. Ito, very skills-based 'yung kusina.

“Didisiplinahin mo talaga 'yung sarili mo in so many ways kasi meron kang mine-mentor na iba pang mga kusinero mo.

“I'm grateful and I'm blessed with a listening crew. 'Yun naman ang kailangan ng isang chef talaga.”

Related gallery: Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo open new branch of Angry Dobo

Looking back, Judy Ann admits that stepping away from the limelight for six months to study culinary arts was one of the best decisions she's ever made.

“Hindi ko plinano na magku-culinary ako para maging chef talaga in the future. In my mind, parang magku-culinary ako para puwede akong magkaroon, kunwari, ng small business, work from home. Takot kasi ako, e. Takot kasi talaga ako pumasok sa industriya ng restaurant talaga.”

Thanks to her husband, Ryan Agoncillo, and siblings-in-law. Judy Ann said, “Yung tiwala kasi nila with my cooking ang problema, ako yung walang tiwala sa sarili ko.

“May doubts pa nga ako before sa pagiging kusinera ko. Nahihiya pa nga akong tawaging chef. Huwag na, Juday na lang.”

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Beyond earning the title of chef, Judy Ann is now reaping the rewards of her passion, receiving opportunities that recognize her culinary skills as much as her acting.

“Nae-excite kasi ako sa idea na 'yung mga inquiries sa akin ngayon, it's more of me being a chef,” she said.

“Lagi ko ngang kinukuwestiyon ang sarili ko, 'Lord, ano po ba 'yung magandang nagawa ko para ma-bless ako nang ganito. Kasi kahit ako, sa totoo lang, nalulula din ako.

“Pero more than anything, I am very grateful kasi tuluy-tuloy ang mga tiwala ng brands, tuluy-tuloy ang project na dumarating.”

Even with her growing recognition as a chef, Judy Ann remains humble, saying she still has plenty to learn in the culinary world.

“When it comes to my skills in the kitchen, I know na malayo pa ang tatahakin ko. Ang dami ko pang dapat matutuhan, and I'm actually excited to study some more kasi endless naman naman ang matuto. Ang education, maraming modes 'yan on how to do it.

“Nandun yung challenge sa akin na kailangan ko pang pakapalin 'yung skills ko. Kailangan ko pang palawakin ang kaalaman ko kasi yung trabaho ko bilang artista at 'yung trabaho ko naman bilang chef will work hand-in-hand naman at some point,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, here are some Filipino celebrity chefs who are popular on social media: